1. The prophet Daniel prayed to God three times in ev’ry day,
Then King Darius made a law that all to him should pray.
But Daniel would not pray to men, he knew this was not right,
He still prayed unto God alone at morning, noon, and night.

2. Soon evil men that heard him pray, to King Darius went,
And said, “We found a man, O King, whose pray’rs to God are sent.
According to your law, O King, he must be punished quick;
But Darius loved Daniel, the thought made his heart sick.

3. The laws, however, could not change, so Daniel was tossed
Into a hungry lions’ den, it seemed his life was lost.
And as the door behind him closed, the King said with a pause:
“I hope your God will rescue you from hungry lions’ jaws.”

4. That night, the King, he could not sleep, he worried for his friend.
Would Daniel be eaten in the hungry lions’ den?
So, early, as the morning came, the King to Daniel went,
And called, “Oh Daniel, did your God protect you in the den?”

5. The King was happy when he heard the voice of Daniel say:
“My God has shut the lions’ mouths, He hears me when I pray.
For, in His sight, I’m innocent, I have done nothing wrong.
And so God sent His angel down, to teach all men this song.”

We know this because the book of Daniel is primarily a book of prophecy, and the instruction in Revelation 10:11, after the prophet had eaten the little book, was to “prophesy again”.

Also, the book of Daniel is one of the smaller books in the Old Testament, so it fits the description of “little book.”

As well, the book of Daniel has a unique distinction of being “sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9). And here, in Revelation 10, the angel with the little book declares that “there should be time no longer” (vs 6).

This marks out the book of Daniel as a book especially important for those living in the last days of earth’s history.

Commonly, the book of Daniel has been thought to consist of two parts:

A series of chapters on prophecy, and

A few interesting stories that are good for children.

But a closer consideration shows that the stories are inextricably linked with the prophecies. Not only do the prophecies of the book of Daniel especially mark out the events of the last days, but the character of Daniel and his faithful friends, and the struggles they went through, are also a picture of the struggles of the faithful who must go through the times foretold in the prophecies. Just as there was a Babylon ruling the world in Daniel’s day, so will there be a spiritual Babylon (the Great) ruling the world in the last days. The prophecies and stories go together.

Daniel and his friends insistence on not eating the king of Babylon’s food which had been offered to idols finds its counterpart in the refusal of the faithful in the church of Thyatira, who refuse “to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Revelation 2:20). It also prefigures those who will not drink of the wine of Babylon the Great, or commit fornication with her (Revelation 17:1-5), and those 144,000 who “are not defiled with women, for they are virgins” (Revelation 14:4).

Daniel’s simple diet of “pulse” (beans, lentils, etc) was in stark contrast to the rich fare of the king’s table. Like John the Baptist, who was the fore-runner of the first appearing of Christ, and was instructed to have a simple diet, so those who announce the second appearing of Christ will also be health reformers, and have a diet similar to Daniel’s, free from the unhealthy fare that today’s factories produce specifically to appeal to depraved appetite, and sell to make a profit in the supermarkets of today. Like Daniel, those living in these times will recognize that in order to serve God aright, the whole being: body, mind, and soul, must be consecrated to Him as a living sacrifice.

The refusal of Daniel’s friends to bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar prefigures those who will not bow down to the “image of the beast” (Revelation 13:14-17), and who “had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” (Revelation 15:2).

Just as the fiery furnace could not consume Daniel’s friends, for Christ was with them in the fire, even so during the time of the awful outpouring of God’s wrath in the seven plagues, the righteous will be protected by the Lord whom they faithfully serve:

Isaiah 2620 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Daniel’s prayer-life, his constant and consistent communion with God, which made him such a pure witness for God and “greatly beloved” in heaven’s sight, is also a pattern for the last generation. Only as the living saints of our day renounce all trust in human strength and bow low before the King of kings, will they be able to stand up to Babylon the Great, the final masterpiece of human plan-making, problem-solving, and pride.

And finally, just as Daniel was thrown into the den of lions for continuing his worship of the true God in spite of the law of Darius, and was untouched by those lions, so will the righteous who serve God in the last times be thrown into a time of great persecution and trouble for refusing to obey the law commanding all to worship the image of the beast. Yet they will survive and stand on the sea of glass (Revelation 15:2-4).

Psalm 911 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.3 Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler.5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.8 Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.9 Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation;10 There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.12 They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet.14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My name.15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.16 With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.